Liquid cooling and dispensing attachment for cooling cabinets



Jan. 3, 1939. 1 c. J. ROMBERG 2,142,763

LIQUID COOLING AND DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FQR COOLING CABINETS Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Shet 1 LEE-r... E D Xf l QD INVENTOR. (zeradcffiazzz Z922 ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. c. J. RQMBER 2,142,763

LIQUID COOLING AND DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR COOLING CABINETS Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT RNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID COOLING AND' DISPENSING AT- TACHBIENT FOR COOLING CABINETS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a liquid cooling and dispensing attachment for cooling cabinets of that type in which bottles of beer, soft drinks or other beverages are kept for sale and cooled while being so kept so that the contents thereof will be maintained at a suitable temperature to be served. Cabinets of this character are usually of oblong rectangular form and made of sheet metal or wood lined with sheet metal and pro- 10 vided at the top with sliding, hinged or other type doors giving access thereto, such doors sliding on or closing against ledges arranged on the interior of the cabinet walls below and adjacent to the top or rim edge thereof.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a portable liquid cooling and dispensing attachment for such cabinets whereby water or a beverage of a desired kind may be cooled and dispensed, which attachment includes a liquid cooling coil so disposed as to be immersed in the cooling water in the cabinet to cool the water or other beverage flowing from a suitable source of supply, and whereby use may be made of the cooling water in the cabinet as the agent for cooling the liquid in the coil prior to its passage to a faucet, bubble fount or other dispensing or discharge device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this character which will oocupy but a small amount of the storage space in the cabinet, which will not interfere with the opening or closing of the cabinet doors or with the ordinary use of the cabinet, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost and will serve as an ornamental and attractive adjunct to the cabinet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the stated character whereby a dealer in goods of this character may be supplied at small cost with a fixture for furnishing ice water for drinking purposes at low cost, and whereby the use of expensive coolers for supplying ice water may be dispensed with.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character set forth which may be connected for service purpose to an ordinary or conventional house or store water supply and waste system without the necessity of running the pipes through the cabinet walls or 60 otherwise mutilating the cabinet and in which when the attachment is installed the pipes will be in a non-conspicuous and out of the way position.

A still further object of the invention is to 56 provide a portable cooling attachment of the character described which may be used with cooling cabinets having different types of covers, which may be applied at either end or intermediately of the cabinet, which in service will be arranged at a high level for efficient drainage, and 5 which properly insulates the cabinet top at its point of application.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, herein- 10 after fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Fig. l is a top plan view of a cooling cabinet showing the application of the attachment thereto. 151

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of that end of the cabinet to which the attachment is applied and showing the connection of the supply and waste pipes to the attachment.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged 20 scale, through a portion of the cabinet and the attachment, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front-to-rear section through the cabinet showing the attachment fitted in position. I 25 Fig. 5 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the end of the cabinet to which the attachment is applied with the latter in position.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line of 30 Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cooling coil.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, l designates a cooling cabinet of the general character described which as herein shown is of 35 oblong rectangular form and open at the top, said open top being normally closed by sliding covers 2. In the present instance two such covers are shown, but the invention is applicable to cabinets having a greater or lesser number 40 of covers. The cabinet may, however, be of any other suitable form, and closed at its top by any other type of cover or covers. The covers as shown slide on and engage side and end ledges 3 and 4 arranged on the front and rear and end 45 walls of the receptacle below the rim edges of said walls. The receptacle contains a body of cooling water 5 in which the bottled liquids are immersed for cooling their contents, such body of water being commonly cooled by ice or mechanical cooling means.

The attachment, generally indicated by the numeral 6, comprises a portable, unitary cooling and dispensing device consisting of a dispensing or fountain head embodying, in the form shown, a

2 base I and a head proper 8, conjointly constituting a support for the cooling and dispensing means thereof. While the form and proportions of the head or support may vary, that shown in the presentjnstance, for purpose of exemplification, and to be used on the particular type of cabinet shown, is of oblong rectangular form and designed to be extended longitudinally across the top of the cabinet from front to rear thereof. It is illustrated in the present instance as fitted at the top of the cabinet near one of its end walls in a space vacated by the adjacent cover 2 or produced by partially opening said cover, but it may be arranged at any point in the length of the cabinet when the cover or covers or structure of the cabinet admits of such arrangement. While the base 1 and head 8 are separately formed and united by screws or other suitable fastenings 9, these parts may be of unitary construction. I prefer, however, in the particular construction disclosed, to make the base 1 of a block of wood or other insulating material, and to make the.

head 8 in the form of ametal casting. The base block 8 is designed to fit within the top of the cabinet and is provided at its front and rear ends with flanges 10 to rest upon the front and rear ledges 3 and it is provided at one side with a flange H to rest upon the adjacent end ledge 4, the opposite side of the block being plane surfaced so that the contiguous edge of the adjacent cover 2 may abut closely thereagainst. The block thus snugly closes the opening in which it fits and insulates the casing at this point against loss of cold and entrance of heat. The block may be otherwise formed in applying the attachment in other ways or to other styles of cabinets.

The head 8, as stated, comprises a cast or sheet metal plate of somewhat greater length and width than the base 1 and having a depending marginal flange l2. From the plate rises a portion [3 forming a catch basin having a bottom wall l4. At one end of the basin this wall is horizontal and forms a support for any suitable or preferred type of faucet, discharge device or outlet 15. At its opposite end the wall I4 has a drain outlet l6 therein covered by a removable perforate drain or guard plate l1 and communicating with an underlying drain pocket or chamber l8 housed in the hollow space below the plate 8 formed by the plate 8, flange I2 and wall l4. Between said horizontal portion and drain outlet the wall l4 slopes at a suitable angle to ensure rapid drainage off of the waste liquid from the faucet caught in the basin. At each end the plate 8 extends beyond the base I and these projecting ends of the plate form supports to overlap and rest upon the rim edges of the front and rear walls of the cabinet. At one side the plate lies flush with the plane side edge of the block I, while the opposite,

side; of the plate projects outward beyond the flanged side ll of the block so as to overlap and rest upon the rim edge of the end wall of the cabinet adjacent to which the attachment is positioned} By this construction the attachment is adapted to be stably mounted in place without attachment to the cabinet and the plate conceals from View the block and joints between the attachme nt and walls of the cabinet. The conformation and finish of the parts just described is or may be such that the attachment when mounted constitutes an ornamental and attractiveadjunct to the, cabinet.

As stated, the discharge device l5 may be ofany suitable character, such as a plain faucet, com: bination faucet, bubble. fount, or other device adapted for simple liquid discharge purposes, or for use as a drinking fount, or for a combination of these purposes. It is suitably fastened to the wall l4 and coupled to the outlet end of a short delivery pipe section l9 extending downward therefrom through the base 1. Disposed beneath the plate 8 and between the same and the base I is a short supply pipe section 20, and similarly disposed between the plate and base is a waste pipe section 2| connected at its forward end to the drain chamber l8. The outer or rear ends of these pipe sections 28 and 2l,'which are housed and concealed from view in the hollow chamber of the head 8, project outward at the rear of the plate through notches or openings formed in the rear end flange thereof for connection with supply and Waste pipes 22 and 23.

Carried by the head is a liquid cooling coil 24 which, when the attachment is applied, depends therefrom into the cabinet so that the coil body will be immersed in the cooling liquid 5 and cooled thereby. The ends of this coil are vertically arranged and the inlet end 25 of the coil extends upwardly through the base I and is coupled to the pipe section 20'while the delivery end 26 of the coil is connected, as by a coupling 21, to the pipe section [9. Thus liquid to be dispensed supplied through pipe 22 from a suitable source will flow through the coil and be properly cooled and then pass to the faucet for discharge.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the invention provides a unitary, portable liquid cooling and dispensing device which may be used as an attachment for cooling cabinets by means of which water or other draft liquid which a dealer may desire'to dispense may be cooled by the cooling means within the cabinet and readily dispensed,thus doing away with the use of other and more expensive devices for the purpose. To mount the attachment in position for use it is simply necessary to partly open or slide back a cover section and mount the attachment in the space thus vacated at the top of the cabinet. When so mounted the coil 24 will be immersed in the cooling liquid '5, and the outer ends of the pipe sections 28 and 2| will project beyond the rear Wall of the cabinet so that by the employment of simple couplings 22, 23' said pipes may be connected to the supply and waste pipes 22 and 23, which pipes may constitute pipes of a water service system or lead from and to any other desired supply source and waste outlet. As the fountain head is arranged at a high level, that of the top of the cabinet, the drain may be to a wash bowl or other appliance having a waste outlet, and in dispensing liquids other than water the supply pipe may lead from a cask or other receptacle containing the same. By the described arrangement of the pipe connections the necessity of boring or otherwise mutilating the cabinet for making the pipe connections is avoided, the attachment may bedisconnected at any time by simply disconnecting the pipes 22, 23 from the couplings 22', 23', and as the pipes are disposed at the rear of the cabinet such pipes will be concealed from View and prevented from marring the appearance of the cabinet.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of my improved cooling and dispensing device will be readilv understood and appreciated by those versed in the art without a further and extended description, and it will be seen that the invention provides a device of the stated character which attains the objects of the invention in a simple, reliable and efiicient manner. It will be evident, of course, that an important and desirable feature of the invention is that it furnishes a portable cooling and dispensing apparatus, complete in itself, which may be applied to any ordinary or conventional type of cooling cabinet by merely fitting it in position and coupling the liquid supply and waste pipes thereto, without the necessity of changing the construction of the cabinet or boring its walls or otherwise mutilating it for reception of the pipes. Furthermore, it will be seen that when the device is applied the pipes will be concealed from view so as not to detract from the appearance of the cabinet, while the device itself will form an ornamental and attractive adjunct enhancing the appearance of the cabinet. While the structure disclosed for purpose of exemplification is preferred, and its use is shown in connection with a particular type of cabinet, it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, as the structural organization may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, and the device used in connection with other types of cabinets, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:-

1. The combination with an open-topped cooling cabinet having closure means for its open top, of a liquid dispensing device mounted at the top of the cabinet and comprising a fountain head having depending marginal walls forming a hollow base portion, liquid discharge element, a drain outlet, and supply and drain conductors extending horizontally Within said hollow base portion and outwardly at one of the margins thereof, said drain conductor being connected to said drain outlet, a liquid cooling coil depending from the head into the cabinet, said coil having a delivery end connected to the dispensing device and an inlet end connected to the supply conductor, and supply and drain pipes connected to the supply and drain conductors respectively at a point adjacent to the top and one of the vertical walls of the cabinet.

2. The combination with a cooling cabinet having an open top, of a portable fountain head of generally oblong rectangular form and adapted to be supported on said cabinet at the top thereof, said head having a hollow base and being provided with liquid discharge and drain elements, a cooling coil depending from the head into the cabinet so as to be cooled by cooling means therein, said coil being connected at one end to the discharge element, and liquid supply and drain conductors disposed horizontally in the hollow base of the head and leading outwardly therefrom at one end of the head, the inner ends of said conductors being connected to the other end of the coil and to the drain element, respectively.

3. The combination with an open-topped cooling cabinet having cover means and supporting ledges therein engaged by the cover means, of a liquid dispensing device comprising a head adapted to fit in the open top in a space vacated by the cover and to be supported by the ledges, said head being of dimensions to extend between the opposite vertical walls of the cabinet and having a discharge device, a drain outlet, a drain conductor connected to the drain outlet and a supply conductor, said conductors extending horizontally beneath the head and outwardly therefrom beyond one of said vertical walls of the cabinet, a cooling coil depending from the head and connected at one end to the discharge device and at its opposite end to the supply conductor, and supply and drain pipes connected to the supply and drain conductors adjacent to said vertical wall at a point substantially in the horizontal plane of the top of the cabinet.

v4. The combination with an open-topped cooling cabinet having cover means and supporting ledges therein engaged by the cover means, of a liquid dispensing device comprising a head having a chambered bottom portion adapted to fit in the open top in a space vacated by the cover and provided with a base of insulating material closing said chambered bottom portion and supported by the ledges, said head having a discharge device, a drain outlet, a drain conductor connected to the drain outlet and a. supply conductor, said conductors extending horizontally beneath the head and outwardly therefrom beyond one of said vertical walls of the cabinet, a cooling coil depending from the head and connected at one end to the discharge device and at its opposite end to the supply conductor, and supply and drain pipes connected to the supply and drain conductors adjacent to said vertical wall at a point substantially in the horizontal plane of the top of the cabinet.

5. The combination with, a cooling cabinet having an opening at its top, of a liquid cooling attachment of unitary type comprising a support adapted to be mounted in the open top of the cabinet and having a liquid discharge element and a waste outlet, liquid supply and waste conduits, the latter leading from said waste outlet, and a liquid cooling coil depending from said support and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the former connected to said liquid supply conduit and the latter to said liquid discharge outlet, said liquid supply and waste conductors respectively having intake and discharge ends arranged in proximity to each other at a marginal portion of the support whereby said liquid supply and waste conduits may be connected to adjacent supply and waste pipes of a service system.

6. A portable liquid cooling and dispensing device adapted to be mounted upon the top of a goods storage and cooling cabinet comprising a fountain head of generally oblong rectangular form and having a hollow base and an upper part formed to provide a catch basin, said base and basin being separated by a wall provided with a drain outlet extending into the base, a liquid discharge device disposed above the catch basin and having an inlet pipe extending through said wall into the hollow base, a drain conductor disposed within the hollow base and connected to the drain outlet, a water supply conductor disposed within the hollow base, said conductors extending longitudinally within the hollow base and outwardly therefrom at one end of the hollow base for connection with waste and supply pipes adjacent to said end of the base, and a liquid cooling coil carried by and depending from the head and forming with the head a portable unit, said coil having an inlet end connected to said supply conductor and an outlet end connected to said inlet pipe of the discharge device.

7. A portable liquid cooling and dispensing device of the character described comprising a fountain head of oblong rectangular form and having a hollow base portion, said head being provided with a catch basin and a partition wall separating the same from the hollow base portion, said wall having a drain outlet communicating with the basin and depending into the hollow base portion, a dispensing device supported by the partition wall and having an inlet pipe connection extending downward therethrough into the hollow base portion, fluid supply and drain pipes extending longitudinally within the hollow base portion and outwardly therefrom at one end of the fountain head, said drain pipe being connected within the hollow 0 base portion to the drain outlet, and a liquid cooling coil depending, from the head, said coil having inlet and outlet ends respectively connected with the liquid supply pipe and inlet pipe connection of the dispensing device, said connections supporting the coil from the head and said supply and drain pipes being arranged for connection with liquid supply and waste pipes beyond one end of the head.

CONRAD J. ROMBERG. 

